ProScan: Proscan mobile interface

[epka_pol]

Hey everyone,
I'm running ProScan's web server so I can control my radio remotely over mobile, but the built-in web interface isn't optimized for phone screens.
As you can see in the screenshot, the virtual front panel, keypad, and audio controls scale down quite small on mobile browsers.

Has anyone built an Android app (APK) or a responsive web wrapper to make remote control easier on mobile? Since ProScan exposes web parameters and WebSocket updates, I'm curious if someone has created a cleaner touch layout for mobile.

 

[d3reeves]

This is actually one of the exact problems I’ve been working on. I’m developing SOS Lite, an Android scanner app designed specifically around a clean, phone-friendly interface for local and remote scanner listening.

I also built ScannerBridge, which can use an old Android phone as the bridge between the scanner and network, with remote data and audio access through Tailscale.

I’m just starting a private beta and looking for scanner people who will actually put it through its paces. Your setup/use case sounds like a great fit.

If you’re interested in testing it, shoot me a message or email scannerheads1@gmail.com with your scanner model and Android phone model.

It’s still beta, so bugs are expected, but the whole point is to build the mobile scanner experience we’ve all been wishing existed. 📻📱

 

[dispatchgeek]

I experimented with some rudimentary ideas to get a portrait oriented scanner on a Proscan webpage. I’m not a proficient coder by any stretch of the word and wasn’t particularly successful.

I did suggest a portrait orientation version of the web server a while back to Bob to function as a sort of “mobile app.” I don’t think it was high on his list of things to work on (which I respect.)

 

[d3reeves]

I experimented with some rudimentary ideas to get a portrait oriented scanner on a Proscan webpage. I’m not a proficient coder by any stretch of the word and wasn’t particularly successful.

I did suggest a portrait orientation version of the web server a while back to Bob to function as a sort of “mobile app.” I don’t think it was high on his list of things to work on (which I respect.)

That’s actually very close to the problem I’m trying to solve.

ProScan is incredibly capable, but its web interface was really designed around a desktop-style layout. On a phone, especially in portrait, everything gets compressed and the controls end up tiny.

I’m taking a different route with ScannerBridge and SOS Lite by treating mobile as the primary interface, not an afterthought. ScannerBridge handles the scanner connection and serves a mobile-friendly webpage, while SOS Lite is the Android app side.

For Apple users, the ScannerBridge webpage is probably going to be especially useful because it can be designed from the ground up for portrait use in Safari and added to the home screen almost like an app.


I completely understand why Bob may not have prioritized it. ProScan already does a mountain of things. I just happen to be obsessing over the “make this actually pleasant on a phone” part. 😂📻

Still looking for beta testers contact me at scannerheads1@gmail.com

 

[dispatchgeek]

That’s actually very close to the problem I’m trying to solve.

ProScan is incredibly capable, but its web interface was really designed around a desktop-style layout. On a phone, especially in portrait, everything gets compressed and the controls end up tiny.

I’m taking a different route with ScannerBridge and SOS Lite by treating mobile as the primary interface, not an afterthought. ScannerBridge handles the scanner connection and serves a mobile-friendly webpage, while SOS Lite is the Android app side.

For Apple users, the ScannerBridge webpage is probably going to be especially useful because it can be designed from the ground up for portrait use in Safari and added to the home screen almost like an app.


I completely understand why Bob may not have prioritized it. ProScan already does a mountain of things. I just happen to be obsessing over the “make this actually pleasant on a phone” part. 😂📻

Still looking for beta testers contact me at scannerheads1@gmail.com

I’ll shoot you an email tomorrow. I am interested in beta testing scanner bridge. I am an iOS user.

 

[epka_pol]

I love using this software remotely, but the mobile web interface is pretty tough to navigate on an Android phone right now.
I really hope the web server can be made more mobile-friendly someday by the developer.

 

[ProScan]

I love using this software remotely, but the mobile web interface is pretty tough to navigate on an Android phone right now.
I really hope the web server can be made more mobile-friendly someday by the developer.

Could you please clarify in which way? Does it work when the phone is in landscape mode as shown in the attached screenshot from my phone?

 

[epka_pol]

Could you please clarify in which way? Does it work when the phone is in landscape mode as shown in the attached screenshot from my phone?

View attachment 206781

Hi Bob.
You can see the screenshot on the first post on the top.
Thank you.

 

[ProScan]

Hi Bob.
You can see the screenshot on the first post on the top.
Thank you.

Did you try using landscape mode? Please see the link below so I can consider your suggestion.:
Suggestions

 

[epka_pol]

Did you try using landscape mode? Please see the link below so I can consider your suggestion.:
Suggestions

It's a desktop webpage, not mobile.

I will more then happy to add it on your suggestion page.

Thank you very much for your time.

 

[dispatchgeek]

Did you try using landscape mode? Please see the link below so I can consider your suggestion.:
Suggestions

I would also throw my hat in for a vertical format mobile page option. iPhone menus and apps often favor or force portrait orientation. I will rotate my phone in a landscape orientation for the Proscan web server page and then feel frustrated moving between that and other functions in the phone.

I have toyed around with the idea of doing an image map of an SDS100 or BC125AT with additional buttons below for scroll/volume/squelch on my own served Proscan webpage, but I haven't made it too far with my limited web coding experience. I do think this could be combined with viewport and web app tags to allow a sort of "app" to exist just by using "Add to Home Page." This all appears doable and realistic by someone with the right skills, which sadly isn't me.

I had previously made a suggestion via e-mail for something similar and would be happy to resubmit my hat into the ring for this.

If I truly had my drothers, I'd create an app that serves up the Proscan web server and allows background audio. I use Proscan Recorder and Rdio-Scanner so I can listen to music and scanner traffic at the same time. Rdio Scanner has a function that allows background audio and ducks the music to a lower level during radio traffic.

 

[ProScan]

I believe the only way to make this work is by adding a portrait(or vertical) View type. This will take several months to implement, as each scanner class will need to be worked on. Due to a Windows limitation, I cannot have the web browser display the "Portrait" view while the ProScan main screen shows the normal view, so both will have to match. I plan to address a few earlier email suggestions first, and then I will look into this further.

Rdio Scanner has a function that allows background audio and ducks the music to a lower level during radio traffic.

That sounds interesting and I would like to see what they are doing. I haven't experienced this issue on my iPhone 12 Pro Max; I can hear the scanner audio on the Chrome browser even when navigating to another page or using a different app. I'm not sure if I changed an iPhone setting in the past. The audio is in mp3 format, which shouldn't or doesn't change the iPhone settings, but I intend to look into this further as well.

 

[dispatchgeek]

That sounds interesting and I would like to see what they are doing. I haven't experienced this issue on my iPhone 12 Pro Max; I can hear the scanner audio on the Chrome browser even when navigating to another page or using a different app. I'm not sure if I changed an iPhone setting in the past. The audio is in mp3 format, which shouldn't or doesn't change the iPhone settings, but I intend to look into this further as well.

To be fair, Rdio Scanner is using an iOS app to accomplish this. The app however, appears to be a nice wrapper for the web app served up by Rdio Scanner with some added bonuses.

I can hear the Proscan stream in the background when using different apps. This changes though when using a different app that also uses audio or video (Scrolling through a local news app with autoplay video can stop the web based Proscan.) Playing audio in the background looks like it needs to use an Audio Focus setting to allow this functionality.

My wife's car doesn't have any radios in it. I will connect my phone to her car via bluetooth, start up Apple or Spotify music and then start a live stream in the Rdio Scanner app. This allows me to listen to music and radio traffic at the same time. It works out very well and makes for a pleasant listening experience.

Most scanner apps on IOS do not have the audio focus setting, which means if you start music up or watch a news clip, it will stop the scanner stream. I understand why it's set up this way, but sometimes I want to do music and scanner, or also pull up a Live ATC stream at the same time. I did years on the dispatch floor, so my listening preferences may be a bit more demanding than most.

@ProScan If you would like, I can e-mail you off of this thread to discuss some of this in more detail.

 

[ProScan]

To be fair, Rdio Scanner is using an iOS app to accomplish this. The app however, appears to be a nice wrapper for the web app served up by Rdio Scanner with some added bonuses.

I can hear the Proscan stream in the background when using different apps. This changes though when using a different app that also uses audio or video (Scrolling through a local news app with autoplay video can stop the web based Proscan.) Playing audio in the background looks like it needs to use an Audio Focus setting to allow this functionality.

My wife's car doesn't have any radios in it. I will connect my phone to her car via bluetooth, start up Apple or Spotify music and then start a live stream in the Rdio Scanner app. This allows me to listen to music and radio traffic at the same time. It works out very well and makes for a pleasant listening experience.

Most scanner apps on IOS do not have the audio focus setting, which means if you start music up or watch a news clip, it will stop the scanner stream. I understand why it's set up this way, but sometimes I want to do music and scanner, or also pull up a Live ATC stream at the same time. I did years on the dispatch floor, so my listening preferences may be a bit more demanding than most.

@ProScan If you would like, I can e-mail you off of this thread to discuss some of this in more detail.

Just to clarify, is that functionality achieved through a specific app rather than a web browser? I don't see how it can work using browsers like Safari or Chrome, though I am aware that iPhone has a VoiceOver Audio Ducking option.

I'm currently focused on other areas, but if you can send me a suggestion, I will look into it. Could you please provide the specific details for what needs to be completed in ProScan?

 

[dispatchgeek]

Just to clarify, is that functionality achieved through a specific app rather than a web browser? I don't see how it can work using browsers like Safari or Chrome, though I am aware that iPhone has a VoiceOver Audio Ducking option.

I'm currently focused on other areas, but if you can send me a suggestion, I will look into it. Could you please provide the specific details for what needs to be completed in ProScan?

I'll send that your way.